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Alexander Garden (naturalist)
Encyclopedia
Dr Alexander Garden is most famous as a botanist whose name lives on in the gardenia
flower, though he was also a physician
and zoologist. Born and educated in Scotland, he lived for many years in Charleston, South Carolina
, using his spare time to study plants and living creatures, and sending specimens to the famous naturalist
, Carolus Linnaeus
.
Garden was born in January 1730 in Birse, Aberdeenshire
, the son of a clergyman. He studied medicine at Marischal College
in the mid-1740s, discovering an interest in natural history
while there. After two years as a surgeon's assistant in the navy, he continued his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh
. One of his teachers was Charles Alston
, the King's Botanist and Keeper of the Garden at Holyrood
where medicinal plants were cultivated; Alston was an influence on Garden's growing interest in botany.
An opportunity came to practise medicine in South Carolina
, where Garden's father, the Reverend Alexander Garden
, had gone to minister to a congregation in Charleston
. The younger Garden arrived there in April 1752, and started work in Prince William Parish. Marischal College granted his MD
in 1754 and the following year he moved to Charleston (at that time called Charles Town) where he married Elizabeth Peronneau (1739–1805). Their children were Alexander
, Margaret A., Harriotte, Juliette (who married Alexander Fotheringham), and William.
Garden was partner in a busy practice but still found time for his greatest enthusiasm. He collected and studied flora and fauna and parcelled them up to send to John Ellis
, a merchant and zoologist in London, and to Carolus Linnaeus
in Sweden, after discovering linnaean classification in 1754. There were no neighbours with similar interests - "there is not a living soul who knows the least iota
of Natural History," he wrote to Ellis - and his botanical and zoological conversations were carried on by correspondence. His parcels to Europe included "birds, fish, reptiles, amphibia, insects, and plants" from South Carolina or further afield, some from new species
or genera
which were then described in the scientific literature. Garden was a member of several learned societies, and was elected to be a fellow of the Royal Society
in London.
He sent various magnolia
s and some Gordonia
specimens to London, and wrote descriptions of Stillingia
and Fothergilla
, but ironically the plant named for him was nothing to do with his efforts, and not even American. Linnaeus had to be pushed to name a plant after Garden, and eventually Ellis persuaded him to use Gardenia as a name for the Cape jasmine, also known as Cape jessamine.
His zoological interests led Garden to write about cochineal
insects and about the greater siren
, (Sirena lacertina), once called the mud iguana. One of Garden's sirens is still in the London Natural History Museum
, pickled in a jar. As a doctor, he used his scientific knowledge in the smallpox
epidemic in Charleston in 1760 when he inoculated over 2000 people, and he published an essay on the medicinal properties of the pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica
).
During the American War of Independence he sided with the British and sent congratulations to Cornwallis after the Battle of Camden
. Two years later his property was confiscated, he had to leave South Carolina, and in 1783 he went to live in Westminster
in London. He became vice-president of the Royal Society and is said to have been respected for his "benevolence, cheerfulness, and pleasing manners". His health had been poor for a long time and he died of tuberculosis on 15 April 1791.
Gardenia
Gardenia is a genus of 142 species of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, Australasia and Oceania....
flower, though he was also a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and zoologist. Born and educated in Scotland, he lived for many years in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, using his spare time to study plants and living creatures, and sending specimens to the famous naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
, Carolus Linnaeus
Carolus Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
.
Garden was born in January 1730 in Birse, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, the son of a clergyman. He studied medicine at Marischal College
Marischal College
Marischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...
in the mid-1740s, discovering an interest in natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
while there. After two years as a surgeon's assistant in the navy, he continued his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. One of his teachers was Charles Alston
Charles Alston (botanist)
Charles Alston was a Scottish botanist.Alston was born in Hamilton. In 1715 he went to Leyden to study under the Dutch physician Hermann Boerhaave. On his return to Scotland he became lecturer in materia medica and botany at Edinburgh and also superintendent of the botanical gardens...
, the King's Botanist and Keeper of the Garden at Holyrood
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Originally founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies four sites across Scotland — Edinburgh,...
where medicinal plants were cultivated; Alston was an influence on Garden's growing interest in botany.
An opportunity came to practise medicine in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, where Garden's father, the Reverend Alexander Garden
Alexander Garden (clergyman)
Rev Alexander Garden was a clergyman born in Scotland, and educated at the University of Aberdeen. In 1719 he went to South Carolina, then part of the American Colonies, as the Bishop of London's Commissary, and became rector of the Episcopalian St. Philip's Church in Charleston...
, had gone to minister to a congregation in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. The younger Garden arrived there in April 1752, and started work in Prince William Parish. Marischal College granted his MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1754 and the following year he moved to Charleston (at that time called Charles Town) where he married Elizabeth Peronneau (1739–1805). Their children were Alexander
Alexander Garden (soldier)
Alexander Garden was an American Revolutionary War soldier and writer from Charleston, South Carolina.-Biography:Garden was born in Charleston, the son of the naturalist Dr. Alexander Garden and his wife, Elizabeth...
, Margaret A., Harriotte, Juliette (who married Alexander Fotheringham), and William.
John Ellis (naturalist)
John Ellis FRS was a British linen merchant and naturalist.Ellis specialised in the study of corals. He was elected a member of the Royal Society in 1754 and in the following year published An essay towards the Natural History of the Corallines. He was awarded the Copley Medal in 1767...
, a merchant and zoologist in London, and to Carolus Linnaeus
Carolus Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
in Sweden, after discovering linnaean classification in 1754. There were no neighbours with similar interests - "there is not a living soul who knows the least iota
Iota
Iota is the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 10. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Yodh . Letters that arose from this letter include the Roman I and J and the Cyrillic І , Yi , Je , and iotified letters .Iota represents...
of Natural History," he wrote to Ellis - and his botanical and zoological conversations were carried on by correspondence. His parcels to Europe included "birds, fish, reptiles, amphibia, insects, and plants" from South Carolina or further afield, some from new species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
or genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
which were then described in the scientific literature. Garden was a member of several learned societies, and was elected to be a fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in London.
He sent various magnolia
Magnolia
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
s and some Gordonia
Gordonia
Gordonia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae, related to Franklinia, Camellia and Stewartia. Of the roughly 40 species, all but two are native to southeast Asia in southern China, Taiwan and Indochina. The remaining species, G...
specimens to London, and wrote descriptions of Stillingia
Stillingia
Stillingia is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae, comprising about 30 species. The genus is found in tropical and warm areas and native to North America.Species include:*Stillingia linearifolia*Stillingia paucidentata...
and Fothergilla
Fothergilla
Fothergilla is a genus of two or three species of flowering plants in the family Hamamelidaceae, native to the southeastern United States.They are deciduous shrubs growing to 1–3 m tall with downy twigs...
, but ironically the plant named for him was nothing to do with his efforts, and not even American. Linnaeus had to be pushed to name a plant after Garden, and eventually Ellis persuaded him to use Gardenia as a name for the Cape jasmine, also known as Cape jessamine.
His zoological interests led Garden to write about cochineal
Cochineal
The cochineal is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the crimson-colour dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America and Mexico, this insect lives on cacti from the genus Opuntia, feeding on plant moisture and...
insects and about the greater siren
Greater Siren
The greater siren is an eel-like amphibian. The largest of the Sirens, they can grow from to in length. They range in color from black to brown, and have a lighter gray or yellow underbelly....
, (Sirena lacertina), once called the mud iguana. One of Garden's sirens is still in the London Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
, pickled in a jar. As a doctor, he used his scientific knowledge in the smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
epidemic in Charleston in 1760 when he inoculated over 2000 people, and he published an essay on the medicinal properties of the pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica
Spigelia marilandica
Spigelia marilandica is a perennial wildflower in the Loganiaceae family that is used as ornamental plant. It flowers in June and tends to be found low moist woods, ravines, or streambanks in partial or full shade. It will grow to 1 to 2 feet high with a spread of 0.5 to 1.5...
).
During the American War of Independence he sided with the British and sent congratulations to Cornwallis after the Battle of Camden
Battle of Camden
The Battle of Camden was a major victory for the British in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War...
. Two years later his property was confiscated, he had to leave South Carolina, and in 1783 he went to live in Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
in London. He became vice-president of the Royal Society and is said to have been respected for his "benevolence, cheerfulness, and pleasing manners". His health had been poor for a long time and he died of tuberculosis on 15 April 1791.